Is God’s warning: “I will put them on trial for what they did to my people”, relevant to current politics?
by Charles Gardner
There has been much comment on the unprecedented divisions in our society we have witnessed of late. Particularly in America over the recent elections and in Britain over Brexit and Covid.
What’s behind all this? Well, the Bible holds the answer, spelled out by the prophet Joel in the verses immediately following the well-known passage on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. (Joel 2:28-32)
These passages were initially fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost, but I believe they also apply to the troubled last days in which we are living.
Joel then writes: “In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.” (Joel 3:1-2)
This means, in effect, that the nations responsible for promoting the so-called “two-state solution” to the Middle East conflict are on a collision course with God, who has clearly, and repeatedly, stated that the land of Israel is his, and he has given it to the Jews because they are his special inheritance.
Questions about who owns this much-coveted territory are thus a litmus test for whether nations are for or against God and his purposes. There are other factors causing divisions, of course, but this one is crucial.
President Trump, for all his flaws, has dramatically turned things around in Israel’s favour
After years of stalemate on this issue, the outgoing President Trump, for all his flaws, has dramatically turned things around in Israel’s favour, generally backing the biblical position against a turbulent anti-Semitic tide while still leaving the “two-state solution” theoretically on the table.
But his action has been met with a gigantic backlash as the hordes of hell have risen up in fury against God’s plans, effectively aligning themselves with those who would dispossess Israel of their rightful land. It is this, I believe, along with the issue of abortion laws which Mr Trump had pledged to reverse, that has exposed the deep divisions in American society, with many shaking their fists at the God of heaven who is in ultimate control.
What about Britain? Ever since the pundits were struck dumb by the surprise result of the 2016 referendum, Britain has been dangerously divided by Brexit, with sections of the media and even former Prime Ministers defying democracy by suggesting it was all a terrible mistake.
Even a thumping majority for Boris Johnson failed to calm the storm
Even a thumping majority for Boris Johnson failed to calm the storm and now, amid a potential financial collapse due to Covid, unseemly squabbles have broken out among Number Ten staff.
As far as Israel is concerned, Britain was given the inestimable privilege of paving the way for Jewish restoration to their ancient homeland. After promising to do all in our power to achieve this, we were handed the international mandate to carry it out following the signing of the San Remo Treaty in 1920.
Even a thumping majority for Boris Johnson failed to calm the storm
But we subsequently betrayed the Jewish people by favouring Arab aspirations instead and prevented Jews fleeing the Nazi Holocaust from entering the land long promised by God.
We have tragically pursued an anti-Semitic policy centred on dividing the land ever since. For the “two-state solution” involves handing what Jews regard as the heartland of Israel – the mountainous country of Judea and Samaria – to the Palestinians, which was never part of San Remo or any of the international agreements made at the time.
More to the point, it amounts to dividing the land. But then Ezekiel prophesied this would happen. Israel’s enemies would say, “Aha! The ancient heights have become our possession.” (Ezekiel 36:2) But it wouldn’t stop Jews coming back to their “own land” (Ezekiel 36:24) and rebuilding the ancient ruins.
Even now, the UK continues to vote in favour of anti-Israel resolutions at the United Nations, including one that referred to the Temple Mount by its Muslim name (as reported by Christians United for Israel on 6 November).
It is surely time the British government changed tack on Israel and made a formal apology for its ongoing betrayal of the sacred trust it was granted to be a blessing to the seed of Abraham. (Genesis 12:3)